Glass-gathering apparatus and method



Mmh 17, 1931. G HOWARD 1,797,206

GLASS GATHERING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed July 16; 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet l li l'l n ill lll l 'i lhll I an" m I m FIG-.1 I

' G. E. HOWARD G ASS GATHERING APPARATUS AND METHOD March 17, 1931.

3 Shets-Sheet- 2 Filed July l6 1917 FIG. 3-

FIG. 5

March 17, 1931. G. E0 HOWARD 1,797,206

GLASS GATHERING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed July-16, 1 3.Sheets-Sheet 3 IFIG.1O ae. 11

. 25 automatic bottle machines and presses which using the same, 1which'is illustrated in the m in the'operation of .the device; Fi '8,is a

V UNITED MEETS, '1'0 HARTFORD-EMPIRE COMPANY, OF :HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A 003- PORATIONOF DELAWARE GLASS-GATHERING APPARATUS AND METHOD hpplication filed July 16, 1917. Serial No. 180,795.

My invention relates to apparatus for and cation of the apparatus; and Figs. 14 and 15 methods of delivering glass in molten form are views in section showing still further from a tank furnace or other receptacle, and modifications. p dischar ing the glass in proper amounts as In the embodiment of my invention herein 5 to Wei t and in proper shape and condition selected for illustration, and referring first for fa ricating into bottles, sheets and for toFigs. 1 to 6, inclusive, 1 indicates the deother purposes.

In a general way, apparatus of the inventank, furnace. This may be of more or less tion comprises two main parts :'-}First, a deordinary construction, and is provided with livery apparatus for taking the molten glass an opening 2. Located in the outlet is a from a tank furnace or other supply body siphon member 3, which spans the wall of the and transferring it into a receptacle; and secrefining-chamber and. delivers the glass to a res PATENT OFFICE GEORGE .HOWABD, 0F BUTLEB,- BENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY HESNE ASSIGN- livery end of the refining-chamber of aglass 7 0nd, a receptacle which is so constructed and pot or receptacle 4. The pot 4 may be adarranged as to deliver quantities of glass in justable up and down,- and forthis pur use exact size and of proper weight, shape and has attached to it three supporting-r0 s 5 condition for final working. (only two of which are shown in the sec- The objects of my invention are:

1st. To provide a practical means for and threaded as at 6. The; said rods pass through method of deliverin molten glass in pro er supporting-beams 7, which in turn are mount condition to be formed into bottles and ot er edu'pon a framework 8 having suitable supobjects; 1 v ports- 9. V The threaded ends of the rods 5 are 2nd. A more specific object is to do this. engaged by nuts 10, which have sprockettional drawing), which rods are screw- I work in such a way that the apparatus can be wheels secured thereto and a sprocket-chain 1 used in conjunction with the standard semi 11 passes from one of said'wheels to the other,

one of said nuts being provided with a handwheel 12, by which all may be operated to are in general use.

.In order to accomplish these objects, esraise'and lower the pot 4. pecia'lly the second, it is necessary toso construct and arrange my apparatus that it will tion connection or passage 13, which in turn duplicate the work of the hand gatherer by communicates with a passage 14 in a suction The siphon-tube 3 is provided with a suc mechanical means, so that it will not be necconnection 15, with which communicates a essary for'the manufactprer 0 pipe 16 leading to any suitable apparatusq od 1118 resent machmes, ib fi g 1118 for producing a vacuum. This suction pas a w ch h e developed to meet sageserves to start the siphonand maintain various limitations of speed, which the level of the surface of the glass within it manual work entails.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consistsin the construction and arrangement of parts,- and in the method of at anydesired point. The pot 4 is provided with a rib or dam 1'7 forming a pocket 18 .irass of molten glass around this outhleg 'o the siphon to facilitate starting. en accompanying fi whmh 1 1s a the glass within the pocket 18 is at the same vertical section parts ing in elevation of an ap grams my invention 1; 2 level as that of the glass 1n the tank 1, there is a tail of certain cam members of the device; Figs. 13 to 7, inclusive, are views in sectionfillu'strating various stages or steps to; the pot '4. As soon, however, as the pot view 'ofamodification o f the parts s own in r fining-chamber, the glass passesthrough Figs. 3 to 7'; Figs.;9 to 13, inclusive, are the siphon into the pocket 18 and-thence views in section illustrating another mo difi j over e dam -mto a second compartment around the outer leg of the siphon tohold a is no flow ofglas's fromthe'refining-chamber 4 is lowered so that the level of the glassitis below thelevel-of that in the 19 of the pot. This second compartment 19 is provided with an opening 20.

It is to be noted that there is no gravity flow of glass from the refining-chamber 1 into the pot 4, but the glass is transferred from the chamber to the pot only by the siphon action of the siphon-tube 3. To replace the glass flowing from the outer legof the siphon, glass is elevated or transferred by suction or reduction of atmospheric pressure in the siphon 3 from the tank intothe siphon. WVhenever this 'siphon' apparatus ceases to operate, there is no further discharge of glass from the tank through the siphon into the pot 4,'and this is the normal condition in which the siphon remains dur ing idle periods of the apparatus.

The advantages of this arrangement are many; incidentally, it enables a user to replace the spout-plug 21 in which is formed a cavity or well having at its bottom an outlet here designated as 20 without having to freeze the glass in the compartment 19; there being no outflow from the tank, it is practical to install the apparatus without stopping the operation of the tank.

Within the .pot 4 is mounted a tube or hollow plunger 22, which conveniently may pass freely through an opening 23 in the top of the pot. This plunger-is made of clay or other refractory material to obviate the deleterious action of the molten glass and of the-temperature within the pot. .The

' upper end of the plunger or tube 22 may be enlarged slightly to form a shoulder 24 to receive a clamping means 25 for clamping ,a metal plate 26 over the top of the pipe or tube to which plate is threaded or otherwise secured :1 pipe 27, which, through a flexible connection 28, leads to a connection 29, which is in communication with a' source of vacuum, the vacuum connection being controlled by a valve 30 having an operating lever 31. A second connection of the flexible pipe 28 is made at 32 with a pipe 33, which is in communication with a suitable source of pressure. This pressure connection is controlled by a second valve 34 having an operating lever 35. i

Thus it will be seen that the tube 22 within the pot 4 may be placed in communication with a source of vacuum or a source of pressure, as desired, to accomplish purposes hereinafter specified.

The tube also is provided with means by which it may be raised or lowered within the pot to vary the distance of its lower end from the outlet 20 of the pot. To this end'a forked lever 36 is provided, which is pivotally mounted on a movable fulcrum 37, said fulcrum point being supported on an arm 38 pivoted at 39 on a fixed bracket 40 secured to the framework 9. This fulcrum-arm 38 has an extension 41 provided with an arcuate slot 42 engaging a bolt and lock-nut 43 by which the fulcrum-arm 38, the fulcrum 37 and the lever 36 may be held adjusted in different fixed positions. The outer'end of the lever 36 is pivotally connected at 44 with a rod 45', which rod is provided at its lower end with an eccentric strap 46 engaging an eccentric 47 mounted on a shaft 48. The shaft 48 may be rotated from any desired source of power. Thus it will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 48, the tube 22 may be raised or lowered intermittently through theconnections specified. The connection 44 is screw-threaded upon the vertical. rod 45 and the position of the connection upon the rod is fixed by means of a lock nut 45. This arrangen'ient provides a means for adjusting the degree of vertical movement of the tube 22 in addition to the adjustment provided by the arm 38.

Thus it is seen that the plunger is given a reciprocatory movement through a lever whose fulcrum and point of application of power comprise movable pivots which are capable of adjusting movement relative to each other.

At temperatures necessary for workin molten glass is a stiff viscous fluid tenacious y adhering to any hot material. The flow starts by forming a half globular drop at the orifice of the vessel; next, its adhesion to the edges of the orifice causes the clro to pull downward at the center, usually orming a drop, the upper end of which adheres to the orifice and the center pulls away to a small stream or thread and this attenuated condition remains constant. Glass resembles all other viscous fluids in this respect, but shows a very great contraction in area of stream.

If the head or level of the glass in the supply reservoir be increased or more pressure applied to the surface of the glass, this contraction below the orifice will be reduced. This is due to the fact that the adherence to the edge of the orifice is so much greater than the tension of the glass particles to each other, and greater pressure forces more glass through the center of the drop without increasing to any great degree the flow at the edges or outer sides of the drop. Conversely, by decreasing pressure on the head or level of the glass, contraction of the stream is increased, and by varying the rate of flow, it is possible to so expand or contract the section of stream near the orifice as to make it resemble within narrow limits, a predetermined form. Also by cutting off the issued glass close to the orifice the contracted section (or the tail partabove the shears) will be dr wn up into the half globular drop at the orifice by reason of the law that a drop of any fluid tends to assume a globular form up to the disrupting point, and corrects any deviation of form by drawing to it the distorted part by molecular attraction of its particles. This forms independent masses without support- I fined herein) and act in such a way as to 210- ing the stream on the shears or other cold members. a

In the 'ihethod employed in carrying out my invention, no forces" operate upon the glass in its line of flow from the tank or other source of supply to the discharge opening, but instead forces act upon the glass at or beyond the orifice, (as the term orifice is decelerate the normal flow and'not tostop it,

i so that by varying the, amount of these forces,

variation in the normal rate of tained. This acceleration at or beyond .the orifice is produced by the force of tension among theparticles of the glass, and is applied after the glass leaves the orifice. This'force of tension is very great in thick viscous liquids,

' such as glass at working temperature.

The force of varyin pressure is applied to the drop after it is ormed and is used to paratus, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1, and

agather or gob is about to be formed, the tu e or plunger 22.is in the position indicated in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6, and the shears, which are indicateddiagrammatically at 49, are open. -With the arts in this position, the tube 22 forms wit the walls of the cavity or well above the pot-opening 20 a discharge orifice, which is clearly shownat 50.' At this point, I desire to draw attention to the clear distinction which I make between the opening 20 of the pot and what I here term as my discharge orifice, or that passage for the molten glass where theglass after passing the orifice is relieved of the pressures due to head or gravity influences of the mass of glass within the pot. This distinction must be. clearl borne in mind in reading the 'following escription of the operation of the apfparatus, the term outlet'on the one hand,- re

erring to the opening 20in the bottom of the pot; and the term orifice, referring to the passage 50 between the lower end of the:

tube 22 and the walls of the cavity orwell above the'pot-openin 20. A1501 make a distinction between t is orifice 50 and the opening or assage 22' in the tube 22, which.

opening '22 like the pot-opem'n 20, does not afiect'the lass untllafter it as the orifice 50, at merely directs the of the glass after it has left the assage' 50,

In the ordinary operation of t edevice, the

e glass from the pot in passed cpurse. shape and mass.

tube 22 ma be in the position" shown, for ex ample, in igs. 1, 3, 5 and 6; and even slightly above the bottom of the pot ;--or, on the other hand, this tube may, if desired, project down to a point beyond the lower end of the pot-opening, as shown in Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive. In either case, the mode of operation of the device is substantially the same. When vacuum or suction is applied through the tube 22, the glass is drawn up inside the tube, as shown M52 in Figs. 1, 3 and 13. It

eters of the opening 20 and of the pipe 22 are such that the sucking-up action into the tube 22 cannot anddoes not stop normal flow of the glass down through the orifice 50 be tween the walls of the cavity or well above said opening 20 and the walls of the tube 22. In other words, the parts are so proportioned that no matter how rapidly glass may be sucked up into the tube 22, this has no tendency to check or retard the flow of the glass down through the orifice 50. 'On the contrary, the only effect which sucking-up of the glass into the tube 22 may have is that flow of the glass out through the orifice 50, as distinguished from the pot-opening 20, may be thereby accelerated, but it is never checked.

It will be obvious that this condition of acceleration of the flow of glass down throu h the orifice caused by the suction in the tu e 22 will take place both when the. pipe is slightly elevated above the opening 20, or even though the tube is depressed below the opening 20. Withr the parts properly proportioned, it is clear that the sucklng-up is to be understood that the relative diamaction of the tube-22 may take place in .such v way as simply'to cause the acceleration of flow between the edge of the tube and the edge of the pot-opening.

In using this apparatus, the glass flowmg down throughthe orifice first assumes the more or less globular shape, shown at 53, Fig.

9. At the same time that this initial flow takes place, a certain amount of glass may be drawn up into the tube 22, as shown at 54,

Fig. 9. Then, as the'flow' continues out through the orifice 50, and when the lobule 53 elongates,as at 55, Fig.- 10, and t ereby tends to, become attenuated or thin,-the glass in the tube 22 may be forced out as shown at 56, Fig. 10, to fill in the'center'of the globule and cause the globule to assume substantially the form shown at 5.5, Fig. 1C.

Continued expulsion of the glass from the tube 22, as illustrated at 57 in Figs. 5 and 11,1 causes the lobuleto maintain substantially a uniform iameter, as shown at such points 57 in Figs. 5 and 11, so that. we then have a mass of lass ready for discharge into a mold or the e, which is of substantially uniform diameter and of practically predetermined When, now, it is desired to cut off. this freelyhan'ging mass to deposit the same, in 130.

the mold, the sucking action into the tube 22 may be resumed, as shown at 58 in Fig. 12,

and it may be made sufii'ciently rapid to cause a decided contraction in the glass at the point 59 Fig. 12. It will be understood, however,

that the flow of the glass down through the globule 60. The globule is then cut off at the point 59 in the ordinary manner,as shown at-61, Fig. 6,by means of the shears 49. At this stage of the proceedings, one of the principal advantages of this invention comes into play which is the taking care of the chilled part of the globule, which is cut off by the cutting shears. This chilled part is indicated as located at the point 62, Figs. 3, 6 and 13.

It .is obvious that the sucking action of the tube 22 draws upon the glass after it is flowed down past the lower end of said tube 22, and

any of the glass which lies below the lower end of this tube tends to be sucked up into the tube under the action of the vacuum. This action, therefore. is illustrated in Figs. 3, 6 and 13, in which it is seen that the stub left by the cut, tends to be drawn up into the tube 22 and, therefore, the chilled portion 62, which-was that-part which contacted with the shears when the first charge was cut oil", is drawnup. into the tube 22; but, at the same time, the glass continues to flow from the orifice of the vessel down and around the lower end of the tube 22 and, consequently, this fresh-flowing hot glass completely surrounds and incorporates the chilled part 62 into the center of its mass, or else so stretches "and kneads this chilled part as to distribute orstretch it over that part of the surface of the drop removed from the point of the drop. By this stretching action, this chilled part is re-heated by the body of the glass. Thus when the second charge is formed, and the glass is again expelled from the tube 22, this chilled portion will likewise be expelled into the center .of the mass ofthe forming charge or stretch over it, and will become assimilated and incorporated in it in such a way that it will not detrimentally aifect the homogeneity of the glass in said charge.

' In extremely large gathers or where the glass becomes quite still, a small flame can be directed against the suspended gather 57 so that the point of the gather can be slightly re-heated and thus reenforce the other agencies for the removal of the chilled spot.

This arrangement is shown in Fig. 15 where.

the small flame 80 is projected against the gather by means of a burner 81 controlled by a valve 82.

It will be seen, therefore, that by this method practiced by the apparatus thus far described, while the flow of the glass out through the orifice 50 of the pot 'may be accelerated beyond the normal rate at will,'it cannot be checked to a point below the normal rate of flow.

By increasing-the speed of the glass, either when risin or falling in the tube 22, a method is provi ed for increasin the normal rate of flow and for thus providing a regulating means for equalizing variations due to changes in the level of the glass in the pot or container, or due to changes of temperature in the glass, both of which would affect the normal flow from the reservoir out through the orifice.

It will be understood that the varying of the suction or pressure within the plunger or tube 22 is effected by the properly timed operation of the Valves 30 and 34 of the pipes 29 and 33, respectively. For this purpose the operating lever 31 of the valve 30 is connected to a rod 68, which has at its lower end an anti-friction roller 69bearing on a cam 70. The rod 68 passes through a guidesleeve 71, and has surrounding it below said guide-sleeve a spring 72, which holds the anti-friction roller 69 in contact with the cam 7 0. The operating-lever 35 of the valve 34 is connected by a rod 7 3 in a similar manner with a second cam 74, and'is held in contact therewith in the same way, the cams 70 and 74 being fixed on the shaft 48. As this shaft rotates, therefore, the communication with the source of vacuum and the source of pressure will be properly timed for the operations intended.

Itis to be understood also that the shears 49 are operatively-c'onnected with actuating mechanism so that-said shears will be operated in synchronism with the forming of the drop or gob, and will. cut oif the gobs in proper succession and at proper times determined by the forming of the gob, which is, in this case, under the control of the operator; that isto. say, obs of greater or less length may be forme and in other respects the character of the gob may be varied to suit thedparticular-purpose for which it is to be use Now referringto the raising and lowering of the tube or plunger 22, its raised position is indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawin s. This raising and lowering is controlled by the lever 36, and its operating mechanism heretofore described.

It is to be understood that this raising and lowering of the tube is not intended for the purpose of disposin of the chilled spot on the gob, but it is to e employed in the firstplace for the delaying ofthe formation of the gob, which is accomplished by raising the tube; and,"second, for adding to the acceleration of the lass to form in some instances a larger go throughthe same diameter of pot-opening; that is to say, in lowering the tube. In any event, however, it is to. be understood that the sucking-up of the chilled gag-t of the gob is first performed by the suc lowermost position as that is the effective position for this action. In order that the pipe may always assume its most efl'ective lower position, but at the same time, in order that the travel of the tube may be increased or diminished as desired, I provide the movable fulcrum 37 for the lever 36,it being understood that in any adjusted position of this fulcrum, the tube will always seek approximately the same lowermost position with respect to the bottom of the pot, but its travel may be increased or diminished by such adjustment. Therefore, in employing this up and down movement of the tube as an adjunct to its normal action in accelerating the feed of the glass, it is first held at its lowered positionafter a gob has beencut oft to suck up the chilled portion of the following gob. This sucking action also retards the formation of the following gob, Whichretardation is increased by then raising the tube. It will benoted at this point that the raisingof the tube has increased what was bottom of the formerly theorifice', and allowed for a greater'fiow of glass through the opening in the pot. When the retardation period has extended for the desired time, the tubeis. again lowered and in so lowering, it accelerates the flow ofthe glass out through the opening in the bottom of the pot. When the tube is in its lower position, expulsion of the glass within the tube again fills the middle or body of the gob as heretofore described. This function of the tube 22 may ,be efiectively employed in the forming of unusually large gobsfor the fabricating of lar e articles, but it is to be understood that suc up and down movement of the tube may be also employed effectively in the form'ation of small articles, the extent of travel of the tube being determined to some extent by the size of the article to be fabricated.

The. travel of this tube has the further function that when the temperature of the glass in the vessel falls for any reason, and the glass becomes-more viscous the downward movementof the tube assists in the expulsion of the glass through the opening in the bottom of the pot, thu'scompensating for the cooling and consequent less workable condition of the glass by the vacuum and pressure actionof' the tube, and this efiectiveness of the travel of the tube increases as the glass becomes colder. Conversely, as the glass slowly resumes a higher temperature, it follows that this plunger action of the tube becomes less efiective in.the more fluid glass,

while at the same time, the suction and pressure actionwithin the tube become the more i effective on the more fluid or hotter glass;

the tube and vacuum and pressure action g action of this tube when in its within the tube. practically stabilize each other in theirultimate efiect.

In Fig. 14 is shown a modified form of the apparatus using the same this case the auxiliary mem er or tube takes the form of a laterally-extending passage 63, formed in an offset 64 of the reservoir or pot 4, and connected by a passage 65 with the source of vacuum. The lower end 66- of this auxiliary passage adjoins that of the orifice 50 from the tank 4. In this case, the auxiliary member or passage 63 takes the glass from and adds it again to the sides of the drop instead of feeding it directl to the center, but the chilled spot cause by the shearing-off of the previous drop is effective ly incorporated intothe mass ofthe follow ing mass or charge, and is further removed from the lower end of the charge, which isthe critical location when feeding the glass to a mold.

In Fig. 8 is shown another modified form of the apparatus using the same principle,

spects, however, the operation of this modified apparatus is precisely the same as that heretofore described.

It is to be noted that the pot 4 here shown is in communication with the heat of the gases of the tank 1 through the passage or opening 2. Should it benecessary, however, to add additional heat to the interior of the pot, the same ma be done by introducing a suitable source 0 flame or heat through an.

opening, such, for example, as the opening 7 5, Fig. 1.

The invention herein described isnot limited' as regards the broad terms of the claims to any particular construction or arrangement of mechanical devices, whereby the rate of flow or shape of the drop are affected by forces acting on the glass at or outside the orifice of thecontainer, so as to increase such normal flow by pulling the glass through the discharge or outlet.

es witha suction-tube 67 rinciple, but in but in this case the auxiliary member or tube There are two distinct characteristics of I my invention: First',that the normal flow can be increased by force acting on the flow at or. after it leaves the outlet; and, second,- that the section of the stream or shape of the glass can be varied without'stopping or reversing the normal flow from the supply reservoir in the discharge opening, and without varying eitherthe pressure upon or height of the surface level of the glass in any part 'of the. supply reservoir. On the contrary,

the entire action takes place on the glass after it has flowed slightly be 0nd the mass of glass in the'container an the force applied to the flowing glass isexpended entirely on the glass after it has'passed beyond the influence of the glass in the container.

, This application is a continuation in part of my copending application, Serial No. 110,- 676, filed July 22, 1916, now Patent No. 1,315,668.

While I have herein described particular forms of apparatus by which my invention may be carried out, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in any manner to such particular apparatus, but that the apparatus for and the method of carrying out the invention may be'varied to any desired extent within the scope of the appended claims.

hat I claim is: a

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet for discharging the glass in successive suspended masses and fiuid-pressure means located entirely above the outlet for transferring a connected portion of the glass to an auxiliary member after leaving said container, said portion forming part of the next succeeding mass.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet for discharging the glass in successive suspended masses, and fluid-pressure meanslocated entirely above the outlet for supporting a connected portion of the glass While permitting the discharge of glass from said container, said connected portion forming part of the next succeeding mass.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a receptacle for holding molten glass, said receptacle having an impulsion chamber or wellterminating in a discharge outlet, a reciprocable plunger adapted to enter said Well, means for reciprocating the plunger, fluid pressure means cooperating with said plunger for forming a mass of glass of controlled selected shape in free suspension below said receptacle, and mechanical shears so timed and op'eratedas to sever the suspended mass while it retains the selected shape so imparted to it.

.4. Apparatus for feeding molten glass comprising a supply reservoir having a well terminating in a discharge outlet and means extending into the well and terminating above the outlet for applying fluid pressure to the glass flowing through the said outlet without varying the level of the surface of the glass within the said su ply reservoir.

, 5. Apparatus for fee in molten glass comprising a supply reservoir aving a discharge outlet in its bottom, means including a hollow member extending into the glass and terminating above the discharge outlet for directly applying to the. glass above the outlet and axially of the outlet pneum atic extrusive force at such times and in such amounts as to cause the glass to assume while freely suspended from the outlet a definite selected artificial shape, and severing means timed to sever the glass while it maintains substantially the shape so selected and produced.

- 6. In glass-delivering apparatus, the combination of a receptacle for holding molten glass, said receptacle having a discharge outlet, a' reciprocable plunger, fluid-pressure means cooperating with said plunger for forming a suspended mass of glass outside of said receptacle, and shears spaced below the outlet for severing a mold charge from the suspended mass; the plunger, fluid pressure means and shears being so relatively timed as to impart to the mass while suspended a selected controllable shape and to sever a mold charge from the mass before control of the shape of the mass is lost.

7. Apparatus for feeding molten glass comprising acontainer for the glass having a Well therein terminating in a dischargev outlet, a refractory member adapted to move Within said well and toward and from the outlet, means for imparting reciprocatory motion to said refractory member comprising a lever.

fulcrumed upon an adjustably movable pivot, and means for moving said pivot to vary the stroke of said refractory member.

8. In a glass feeder in combination with a container for the glass having a submerged outlet, a plunger in adhesive contact with the glass and adapted to Work in axial alignment with, and toward and from the outlet, a lever adapted to transmit reciprocatory movement to the plunger, an adjustably movable pivot providing a fulcrum for said lever, and means for moving said pivot to vary the length of stroke of said plunger.

9. In a glass feeder in combination With a. container for molten glass having a submerged outlet, an impelling member adapted to move to and from the outlet in axial alignment therewith, a, lever for imparting movement to said impeller, an adjustably movable pii'ot adapted to act as a fulcrum for the lever, and means for moving said pivot to vary the upper position of the impeller without substantial change in its lower position.

10. A glass feeder comprising a container for the glass having a restricted Well terminating in a discharge outlet, a controlling member in adhesive contact with the glass and operating within said well, but at all times out of contact with the walls thereof, a lever adapted to move the impeller periodically toward and away from the outlet, an adjustably movable pivot constituting a fulcrum for said lever, and means for moving said pivot to vary the character of the impeller movement within the well whereby the quantity of glass discharged from the outlet during each cycle of the impeller operation may be varied.

11. A glass feeder comprisin a container for the glass having a submerged outlet, a reciprocating plunger adapted to move toward and-from the outlet to control the formation of shaped suspended mold charges, a lever to impart reci rocatory movement to the plunger, means or applying power to said lever through an adjustablymovable moving pivot,

and means for adjusting the position of the.

pivot to vary the position of the plunger stroke to vary the size and shape of the glass charges discharged andsuspended from the outlet.

' above the opening.

equal to the ing said charge in a mold.

12. In a glass feeder in combination with a container for theglass having-a submerged outlet, a plunger adapted to move toward and from the outlet and in vertical alignment therewith, means for imparting movement to the plunger including a lever having a fulcrum point and a point of application of power adjustable with respect to each other, and means for adjusting one of said points to vary the length of the stroke of the plunger, and means for adjusting the other said points to vary the position of" the stroke of the plunger.

13. In a glass fe'eder in combination with I a container forthe glass having a submerged outlet, a plunger ada ted to move toward and from the outlet an in vertical alignment therewith, means for imparting 'movement to the plunger including a lever having an adjustably movable fulcrum and'a movable oint of application of power, and means or moving one ofrsaid points to vary the length ofthe stroke of the plunger.

from the outlet of a container, that comprises establishing a gravity flow of glass around the lower end of a hollow control member immersed in the glass and thence through the outlet effective while a substantial-portion of the glass issues from the outlet, then increasing the rate of flow of further portions of the issuing glass, by a pneumatic impulse applied above the outlet, to a rate substantially then rateof downward flow of the previouslyissued portion, thereby ing the glass while hanging freely -1nto an elongated mass having the same or substantially the same cross sectional area for the greater portion of its length, severing a mold.

charge from the mass and thereafter receiv- 15. The method of forming a mass of molten glass suitable when severed to form a mold charge and imparting a selected artificial shape thereto, that comprises forming a substantial portion of the mass by passing glass around the lower end of a control member immersed in the glass and thence through bottom of a supply reseran opening in the voir by gravity, forming a later substantial portion of the mass by forcing glass throughv said opening by a pneumatic impulse applied to accelerate the normal gravity flow, then contracting the cross sec- 14. The method of delivering molten glassshaption of the upper portion of the mass prior to its-severance from the parent body, and severing the mass at the oint of contraction while it is in suspension rom the o ening.

16., The method that com rises orming a suspended mass of molten g ass by causing a substantial quantity of'g'lasscto flow. around the lower end of a control member submerged in the glass and thence to issue by gravity through a submerged outlet in a container,

and then forcing an additional substantial.

quantity of glass through the outlet into the interior of the mass of issued glass, while it is still suspended and hanging'freely, by the local application of a pneumaticaccelerating' force to the glass issuing from the outlet suf ficient to substantially overcome the tendency of the issued glass to contract.

17. The method of feeding molten glass in mold charges, which comprises passing the glass through an annular passage formed between the walls of a well in the bottom of a glass container and an implement projecting downwardly into said well, thence around the lower end of the implement and thence through the opening in the bottom of said container, controlling the rate of issue of said glass by varying pressure applied through said implement to the glass below the annular passage, and periodically severing mold charges from the glass so issued.

18. The method of feeding molten glass in mold charges, which comprises flowing the glass downwardly through a submerged outlet, periodically accelerating and retarding flow of glass through the outlet by communicat-ing expelling and retarding pneumatic impulses to the glass above the outlet, further substantially in line-with the outlet, further accelerating and retarding flow of glass through the outlet by imparting expelling and retarding fluid impulses to the glass above the outlet in timed relation to the accelerating and retarding strokes of the implement, and periodically severing inold charges from successive masses of issued glass whille such masses are suspended from the out et.

20. The method of feeding molten glass in mold charges, which comprises flowing glass by gravity downwardly through a submerged iii) outlet of a glass container, periodically accelerating and retarding flow of glass throu h the outlet by reciprocating an lmplement 1n adhesive contact with the glass substantially. in line with the outlet, further accelerating and retarding flow of glass through the outlet by imparting expellin and retarding fluid impulses to the glass a ove the outlet in timed relation to the accelerating and retarding strokes of the implement, and periodically severing mold charges from successive masses of issued glass in timed relation to the application of the expelling fluid impulses and while such masses are suspended below the outlet.

21. The method of feeding molten glass in mold charges, which comprises flowing glass by gravity downwardly through a submerged outlet of a glass container, periodically accelerating and retarding flow of glass through the outlet by reciprocating an implement in adhesive contact with the glass substantially in line with the outlet, further accelerating and retarding flow of glass through the outlet by imparting expelling and retarding fluid impulses to the glass above the outlet in timed relation to the accelerating and retarding strokes of the implement, and severing mold charges from said suspended masses while such masses are suspended below the outlet and in timed relation to the application of the fluid expelling impulses.

In testimony whereof, I the said GEORGE E. HOWARD, have hereunto set my hand. GEORGE E. HOWARD. 

